Announcements
This Wednesday is Wacky Hair Day!
PAC Card Check: If you have two or less warnings, you may go to lunch 5 minutes early!
Today's Focus: Growing with Time and Training Picture This: Let’s say that Mrs. G wants to run a marathon in January. She’s never attempted to run a marathon before, she is not a fast runner, and her legs are not strong enough right now to allow her to run the whole race yet.
What would you tell Mrs. G to do to get ready for the marathon?
Does she need a workout schedule? What would that look like?
Does she need to consider her diet? Can she keep drinking 3 cups of coffee and eating Rice Krispy treats all day? What would you recommend?
What would happen if she decides not to train with this plan, but instead sits on the couch every night between now and the marathon?
Okay, okay. So Mrs. G decides to listen to your plan and starts training. Half way into it, she starts to complain that she’s tired… and hot… and still a long way off from reaching her goal. What would you tell her to keep her motivated?
In this situation it is easy to see that having a growth mindset and eating better will help Mrs. G prepare for the race, but these two things are not enough to help her actually run it. She also needs to spend time training to grow her muscles so that she can run the whole race. This will take lots of effort over a period of time.
In the same way, we have learned that we can plan to learn better by
motivating ourselves with growth mindset statements (ex. I can do this!)
taking care of our brains (ex. by staying hydrated)
and challenging our brains so that they will grow (just like how our muscles grow)
In order to learn a particularly challenging task (like running a marathon) or concept (like quadratic equations), we will need to keep at it for a while so that our brains have enough time to create new neuralpathways. The amount of time needed to learn a new concept or behavior can be different from person to person as seen in the video here:
Group Discussion: In groups of 3-4, tackle the following 3 questions together. Hear each other out and then share your views with the class. Then finish up with the last two questions after the video.
Why do you think it is so hard to learn how to ride a backwards bike?
How long did it him to form the neuralpathway to learn to ride the backwards bike?
Compare the amount of time it took him to learn to ride the backwards bike to how long it took his son to learn to ride it (2 weeks). What does this difference in time imply about how their brains are working?
Knowing what you know now about how the brain works, would it be accurate to say that his son is smarter than he is because he learned how to ride the backwards bike faster? Explain you reasoning.
From this experiment, we can see that it takes both time and practice to learn a new skill, and recent science is showing that younger students have the advantage. What does all of this mean for you as a student learning new concepts?
Terrific Tuesday Announcements If your classroom still has a box of supplies from Unity Day, please send a student to return it to the Counseling Center. The Library is open today after school from 3:00 to 4:00 for students who want to work on homework. Robotics meets today in S4 with Mr. Nusser from 3:00-4:00. Girls on the Run Meets today in room 8 with Ms. Hull and Ms. Rozsnyoi from 3:00-4:00. Tomorrow is Wacky Hair Day!
Grades close this Friday. Make sure to turn in all missing work and complete test/quiz retakes before the end of Friday. Let's complete our ZAP Passes now to see if anything is missing. All Students to complete today: Grade Checks and ZAP Passes 1. Students: log into Powerschool and have a pencil ready. Once you receive a ZAP Pass from your teacher, fill out the top portion, including:
your first and last name
ID number
ADVISORY room number
7th PERIOD room number
2. Then check your classes in Powerschool. Write down your current grade on the ZAP Pass and record any missing assignments you have in each class in the chart on the ZAP Pass.
3. Count how many missing assignments you have and write down that number. If you are missing 2 or more assignments, put a check mark in the box.
4. Give your ZAP Pass to your Advisory Teacher. (Teachers, return all passes to Ms. Paige's mailbox in the office today.
6th Grade:
Today's Focus: Introduction to "This Way to Good Grades" For the next several weeks, all iMiddle students in the 6th Grade will focus on developing and improving six skills that can lead to academic success using an online program called, "This Way to Good Grades." Before we navigate to this site, take the next 3 minutes to brainstorm the following as a class (devices can be turned on in the meantime):
Identify 6-8 benefits for earning good grades (i.e. I can participate in clubs/sports)
Come up with at least 5-7 skills, habits, or other resources that can help students earn good grades in school
Students will want to bookmark this website for quick access. Everyone will use the same username and password to log-in each week. To log-in, enter:
Username: imiddle
Password: skyhawks
Once you open the program, compare your class's list of skills with the list of modules on the home page. Then navigate through the Introduction section only.
Exit slip: Share one reason that motivates you to earn good grades.
7th Grade:
Today's Focus: Every Tuesday during Advisory, 7th graders will be focusing on Career and College Readiness.
So, what comes to mind when you hear "College and Career Readiness" as a seventh grader? Can we get two or three students' opinions? What kind of careers are you all interested in? Do you know what kind of degree is necessary for that career?
It's never to early to start thinking about your future! Even if you're not sure yet what you want to do, getting a general idea of what type of skills you need to get and the knowledge you need to start collecting can be very useful!
Watch this video clip on goals to get a sense of how taking small steps toward your future NOW is important:
Success can be measured not just because you reached your ultimate goal, but also taking those small steps toward fulfilling your goals. In thinking about College and Career Readiness, does anyone feel like that first cartoon running away from potential goals? (Raise your hand if this idea is totally frightening). The important thing to remember is that big goals take time. Through small steps of action, you can make it!
In order to start thinking about your big goals of careers and/or college, today we are going to work on an Educational Journey Map. What does your Educational Journey look like so far? Below is Ms. Perez's (school counseling intern) educational journey. She has a big goal of getting a doctoral degree in education or public policy, but her educational journey has been marked by some uncertainty and rethinking of what she wants to do. Take a look:
Note that there was a time when Ms. Perez didn't know where her educational journey would lead. After graduating college, Ms. Perez took a job as a teacher in Oakland, but after one year she didn't know what to do anymore! She had graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Trinity College and thought: "maybe that's what I should continue to study. I'll get a Masters in Political Science!." However, she soon realized how working with students made her really happy, so here she is at iMiddle, completing her degree for School Counseling. After some time actually working as a School Counselor, she might rethink the need for a doctoral agree or maybe she'll go back to studying Political Science. Who knows! But goals keep her motivated!
Goals can change over time depending on our experiences, and THAT IS OKAY! Now it's your turn. What does your educational journey map look like so far? Where do you think it is going? Is there a clear path or might there be changes? Also, your map can have more than one road. Perhaps you want to be a painter, but also work in construction. There can totally be two or three, or even four paths. Draw your own Educational Journey Map!
Teachers: Please submit any finished Educational Journey Maps to the Counseling Center.
Do you agree that the redskins mascots and team names should be banned? Why or why not?
One student at Calaveras High stated, "We don’t necessary walk around school, call people redskins in a racist or hurtful way. If we call somebody a redskin, then it is in an honorable way." Is it okay to use language that some find offensive if it is not intended to be offensive?
In this segment, we learned that it would cost the school district $60,000 to change the mascot at Calaveras High. Why do you think this detail was shared? Would it matter if the cost to change the scoreboard and team uniforms was more affordable?
Wacky Wednesday
Announcements Tomorrow we will participate in the Great American Shakeout Drill. Click on the link below to review the safety procedures in the event of an earthquake: Drop-Cover-Hold
Watch this week's iMiddle News
Thinking Thursday
Announcements
Dance Tickets go on sale today at lunch. Pick them up early for $6 and receive a FREE Kona Ice. Tickets purchased at the dance will be $8.
The Library is open today after school from 3:00 to 4:00 for students who want to work on homework.
All 7th and 8th grade students with a ZAP PASS should come to the Library to ZAP their zeroes now.
Today and Tomorrow we will have assemblies for our Mixed Bag Fundraiser. There will be a Pizza Party for the class that raises the most money per student. All 6th Grade Advisory should now report to the Auditorium for the assembly.
Today's Focus: Prepare for Research on the Genius Project using the KWHLAQ Chart (Fill in KWH for topic)
Review the ideas the class came up with for the Genius Project.
Break into small groups of 3-4. Each group fills out the K, W, and H of the chart here and the teacher will be around to help:
Pick the best 2 or three ideas and record them on a class KHLAQ chart projected on the screen.
Future Focused Friday
Announcements Grades close today! Make sure you have turned in all of your assignments. All first period classes that have successfully spelled out "Donut Be Late" will have a donut party next Monday. All students with a ZAP PASS should come to the Library at the end of 7th period. If your ZAP pass is signed, turn it in so you can be released. If your ZAP pass is not signed, prepare to work on any missing assignments.
Today we will have an assembly for our Mixed Bag Fundraiser for our 7th ad 8th graders. There will be a Pizza Party for the class that raises the most money per student. All 7th and 8th Grade Advisories should now report to the Auditorium for the assembly.
Today's Focus: Prepare for Research on the Genius Project using the KWHLAQ Chart (Fill in KWH for topic)
Review the ideas the class came up with for the Genius Project.
Break into small groups of 3-4. Each group fills out the K, W, and H of the chart here and the teacher will be around to help:
iMiddle Monday
AnnouncementsThis Wednesday is Wacky Hair Day!
PAC Card Check: If you have two or less warnings, you may go to lunch 5 minutes early!
Today's Focus: Growing with Time and Training
Okay, okay. So Mrs. G decides to listen to your plan and starts training. Half way into it, she starts to complain that she’s tired… and hot… and still a long way off from reaching her goal. What would you tell her to keep her motivated?
In this situation it is easy to see that having a growth mindset and eating better will help Mrs. G prepare for the race, but these two things are not enough to help her actually run it. She also needs to spend time training to grow her muscles so that she can run the whole race. This will take lots of effort over a period of time.
In the same way, we have learned that we can plan to learn better by
In order to learn a particularly challenging task (like running a marathon) or concept (like quadratic equations), we will need to keep at it for a while so that our brains have enough time to create new neuralpathways. The amount of time needed to learn a new concept or behavior can be different from person to person as seen in the video here:
Teachers: please stop video at 4:51
The Backwards Brain Bicycle Challenge
Group Discussion: In groups of 3-4, tackle the following 3 questions together. Hear each other out and then share your views with the class. Then finish up with the last two questions after the video.
NeuroPlasticity
Terrific Tuesday
Announcements
If your classroom still has a box of supplies from Unity Day, please send a student to return it to the Counseling Center.
The Library is open today after school from 3:00 to 4:00 for students who want to work on homework.
Robotics meets today in S4 with Mr. Nusser from 3:00-4:00.
Girls on the Run Meets today in room 8 with Ms. Hull and Ms. Rozsnyoi from 3:00-4:00.
Tomorrow is Wacky Hair Day!
Grades close this Friday. Make sure to turn in all missing work and complete test/quiz retakes before the end of Friday. Let's complete our ZAP Passes now to see if anything is missing.
All Students to complete today: Grade Checks and ZAP Passes
- your first and last name
- ID number
- ADVISORY room number
- 7th PERIOD room number
2. Then check your classes in Powerschool. Write down your current grade on the ZAP Pass and record any missing assignments you have in each class in the chart on the ZAP Pass.3. Count how many missing assignments you have and write down that number. If you are missing 2 or more assignments, put a check mark in the box.
4. Give your ZAP Pass to your Advisory Teacher. (Teachers, return all passes to Ms. Paige's mailbox in the office today.
6th Grade:
Today's Focus: Introduction to "This Way to Good Grades"For the next several weeks, all iMiddle students in the 6th Grade will focus on developing and improving six skills that can lead to academic success using an online program called, "This Way to Good Grades." Before we navigate to this site, take the next 3 minutes to brainstorm the following as a class (devices can be turned on in the meantime):
Now let's enter the website at
http://www.woodburnpress.com:8080/digital/
Students will want to bookmark this website for quick access. Everyone will use the same username and password to log-in each week. To log-in, enter:
Username: imiddle
Password: skyhawks
Once you open the program, compare your class's list of skills with the list of modules on the home page. Then navigate through the Introduction section only.
Exit slip: Share one reason that motivates you to earn good grades.
7th Grade:
Today's Focus: Every Tuesday during Advisory, 7th graders will be focusing on Career and College Readiness.So, what comes to mind when you hear "College and Career Readiness" as a seventh grader? Can we get two or three students' opinions? What kind of careers are you all interested in? Do you know what kind of degree is necessary for that career?
It's never to early to start thinking about your future! Even if you're not sure yet what you want to do, getting a general idea of what type of skills you need to get and the knowledge you need to start collecting can be very useful!
Watch this video clip on goals to get a sense of how taking small steps toward your future NOW is important:
Video Link
Success can be measured not just because you reached your ultimate goal, but also taking those small steps toward fulfilling your goals. In thinking about College and Career Readiness, does anyone feel like that first cartoon running away from potential goals? (Raise your hand if this idea is totally frightening). The important thing to remember is that big goals take time. Through small steps of action, you can make it!
In order to start thinking about your big goals of careers and/or college, today we are going to work on an Educational Journey Map. What does your Educational Journey look like so far? Below is Ms. Perez's (school counseling intern) educational journey. She has a big goal of getting a doctoral degree in education or public policy, but her educational journey has been marked by some uncertainty and rethinking of what she wants to do. Take a look:
Note that there was a time when Ms. Perez didn't know where her educational journey would lead. After graduating college, Ms. Perez took a job as a teacher in Oakland, but after one year she didn't know what to do anymore! She had graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Trinity College and thought: "maybe that's what I should continue to study. I'll get a Masters in Political Science!." However, she soon realized how working with students made her really happy, so here she is at iMiddle, completing her degree for School Counseling. After some time actually working as a School Counselor, she might rethink the need for a doctoral agree or maybe she'll go back to studying Political Science. Who knows! But goals keep her motivated!
Goals can change over time depending on our experiences, and THAT IS OKAY! Now it's your turn. What does your educational journey map look like so far? Where do you think it is going? Is there a clear path or might there be changes? Also, your map can have more than one road. Perhaps you want to be a painter, but also work in construction. There can totally be two or three, or even four paths. Draw your own Educational Journey Map!
Teachers: Please submit any finished Educational Journey Maps to the Counseling Center.
8th Grade:
Today's Focus: Channel One News News Ethical DebateCheck out the Channel One News segments for today, 10/13/15 here
Discuss and Debate:
Wacky Wednesday
AnnouncementsTomorrow we will participate in the Great American Shakeout Drill. Click on the link below to review the safety procedures in the event of an earthquake:
Drop-Cover-Hold
Watch this week's iMiddle News
Thinking Thursday
AnnouncementsToday's Focus: Prepare for Research on the Genius Project using the KWHLAQ Chart (Fill in KWH for topic)
Future Focused Friday
AnnouncementsGrades close today! Make sure you have turned in all of your assignments.
All first period classes that have successfully spelled out "Donut Be Late" will have a donut party next Monday.
All students with a ZAP PASS should come to the Library at the end of 7th period. If your ZAP pass is signed, turn it in so you can be released. If your ZAP pass is not signed, prepare to work on any missing assignments.
Today we will have an assembly for our Mixed Bag Fundraiser for our 7th ad 8th graders. There will be a Pizza Party for the class that raises the most money per student. All 7th and 8th Grade Advisories should now report to the Auditorium for the assembly.
Today's Focus: Prepare for Research on the Genius Project using the KWHLAQ Chart (Fill in KWH for topic)